Job Discussion Forums

[torontogirl88]

I read an article a few days ago ranking the world's top cleanest and uncleanest cities. I thought Osaka would be way up there, but it was actually tied in LAST PLACE.

I had an idea that all of Japan was SUPER clean? Am I wrong in thinking this? Isn't Japan a really clean country?

Is Tokyo the only clean city in Japan? Is Osaka actually dirty? Or... can someone shed some light?

Thank you!


(One reason why I picked Japan over any other country in Asia was the fact that it was REALLY clean!!!)

[the4th2001]

Dirty in what way? If it's air-quality, even Tokyo is pretty bad. Compared to other Asian cities I've worked and/or lived in though, I can't really complain. Actually, I remember going to Fukuoka (Kyushu) a couple of times for business back in 2009. On one of the trips I commented to a colleague about how crisp and beautiful the air was. He laughed and said thanks to pollution from China, it's not even close to as good as it used to be. I've heard similar comments made for Osaka and Tokyo.

[seklarwia]

I think there is something wrong your article unless there are some details you're not explaining fully. If it is an online article, perhaps you could post the link. I would certainly be interested in having a read of it.

China has some absolutely rancid cities. I loved my city for many reasons, but pollution and general hygiene were not in anyway part of the reason why; it was dirty, had factories pumping out smoke 24/7 (literally since I lived in the textile and silk province) which certainly explained the nasty spitting everyone was doing (blowing your nose and looking at the tissue after was the stuff of nightmares) and you couldn't look in anywhere without seeing rubbish, sludge or the occasional human excrement. And my city was considered pretty beautiful by Chinese standards!
And surely you must have seen pictures of the smog in Beijing just before the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics... I don't think there is even one city in China that could compete against any Japanese city for being clean.

And how Osaka could rank last when other countries have such gems as these ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/jun/05/waste-world-environment-day?picture=348339024#/?picture=348339020&index=6 ) is beyond me.

[sabina]

Where are you getting your information?? There is NO WAY Osaka is dirtier than Linfen, China. Health wise being in Linfen for one day is the equivalent to smoking a whole pack of cigarettes. If you hang laundry outside it turns black.
Japan is very clean. People don't litter here (I'm sure there are a few exceptions to this....), and generally they have good hygiene. And they are kind of insane when it comes to recycling.
With any big city you're going to have a little smog and pollution, though. But that's inescapable. You could always go rural.

[Apsara]

I'd also like to see that article. Having travelled a lot in SE Asia, India and the Middle East, I can't imagine what criteria would have caused any Japanese city to be among the world's dirtiest.

Air quality in Tokyo and Osaka is probably not the best, but is nothing even remotely like the situation in cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Delhi and Mumbai where buildings just a few hundred metres away can be all but obscured by the haze.

I disagree that people don't litter here- plenty of people do. What happens though is that lots of people are being paid (or volunteering) to pick up after others constantly, so there tends not to be a lot of garbage around.

Other than Singapore and maybe Hong Kong, I don't think you will find cities anywhere in Asia as clean as in Japan- don't worry about that article.

[flyer]

I have only been there once and I was all that impressed

Well, lets say; It certainly didn't seem a really clean city to me, but then I didn't see all that much of it

[Apsara]

But flyer, would you say it qualifies to tie for dirtiest city in the world like the article says? Have you been to Mumbai or Saigon?

[wayne432]

I think the OP definitely read the article wrong or at least confused it in his/her memory.
Maybe Osaka was in last place (like 25/25) for cleanest city?

[torontogirl88]

Hey Guys,

Okay, I found the article, BUT, it wasn't on the original site where I had read it. This article doesn't mention how Osaka was dirty, but it does show you the cities that they DID rank as the top 10:

http://www.djmick.co.uk/travel/10-cleanest-cities-in-the-world/

As you can see, it's probably not that accurate, and it seems like they are just talking about eco-friendliness or something... I dunno.

Thanks for all your feedback, I got so freaked out because I think I'll most likely be in Osaka (still waiting to hear about my placement!!)

Even though you guys are saying it's definitely not the DIRTIEST city in the world - I'm curious to know if you guys think its one of the cleanest you have seen?

[the4th2001]

[shostahoosier]

Osaka can definitely be a dump. I spent about a week in the area over by the zoo and was shocked by how dirty it was. The train ride from that area to the airport didnt help things either.

I wouldnt put Oosaka as one of the dirtiest cities in the world, but I was definitely appalled by the parts that I saw as the rest of Japan seemed immaculate.

[Ikki]

If one is truly worried about living in a pristine tiptoe-through- the- tulips environment, probably best to avoid E. Asia altogether-even Japan.

I've strolled through Minami-Namba in the wee hours & seen mounds of garbage that a city could be built on...not to mention roaches & rats the size of small dogs....

[Shonai Ben]

after visiting Toronto for the first time a few years ago I can't imagine anyone complaining about dirty cities in Japan........

[Apsara]

I was wondering about how Toronto would compare with Osaka, since these things are all relative...

[torontogirl88]

Haha, Toronto is definitely not a clean city. I never claimed it was

I just had the impression that all of Japan was the cleanest place EVER, so I was surprised when I heard Osaka wasn't all that clean. I'm sure it's a lot cleaner than Toronto!!!